Poignant Pics no. 88: On Cynthia Gladis' “Noir"
“The sky grew darker, painted blue on blue, one stroke at a time, into deeper and deeper shades of night.”
Noir
Most of the work done by Cynthia Gladis displays her talent in showing us observations of overlooked things surrounding us. The content varies—in any given outing, it might be sand, architecture, the back entrances of shopping malls, or deterioration patterns on walls. Sometimes, the imagery is somewhat spare, while other times, it boldly nods to grid-like elements that harken to her long career as a graphic designer. It's greatly contrasted to the melancholic, emotional, 'bare your soul to the world' sort of work I make and, hence, gravitate towards as a viewer.
Last winter, Gladis, who shoots with a variety of cameras, updated her phone and, in doing so, switched to Apple. Shortly after, she began experimenting with add-on lenses and testing how an iPhone held up for night photography.
I loved this image, one of the early experiments, the second I saw it pass my FB feed. Gladis used a low-end anamorphic lens that she subsequently returned as she was unhappy with its performance. (On the other hand, I listened to her talk about its flaws and knew I wanted one precisely because of them. I still do!)
Gladis said, “I’ve always been drawn to night photography, as darkness can turn the most benign daytime scene into something with a much different mood.” I find this image mysterious and somewhat ominous. The house is well-lit, and its occupants are enjoying a fire on what must be a chilly evening. But at the edge of the frame, where the photo's detail disappears into blackness, as the viewer, I am lurking in the bushes across from the home.
I could be anything from a thief awaiting my opportunity to a detective watching the occupants' and visitors' movements. Perhaps I am a teen boy awaiting my girlfriend to sneak out the back door? My imagination runs wild with possibilities. These flights of imagination the image inspires are what drew me to it.
Bravo, Cynthia!
Artist Bio
Cynthia Gladis is a New Jersey-based photographer whose previous career as a graphic designer informs her work. She was honored to be invited to be FRAMES Magazine’s second Artist in Residence, where she guided Frames readers through her practice of taking and editing images. Publications include features in FRAMES Magazine Volume 10, RfotoFolio, the book Peer 3 by The Visual Conservancy, and several digital features on FRAMES and Street Photography Magazine websites and podcasts. Gladis has participated in several group exhibitions, including the Plastic Camera Show at the Kansas City Stockyard and Picture This! at the Flagler County Art League. In 2024, she is scheduled to present 20 images from her Night Wanderings series as a solo exhibition at The Library Gallery in Metuchen, and several images from her Sand Stories series will be on exhibit at the Mignolo Arts Center in conjunction with a feature in their publication, Pinky Arts Press.
Author Bio
Diana Nicholette Jeon is an award-winning artist based in Honolulu, HI, who works primarily with lens-based media. Her work has been seen both internationally and nationally in solo and group exhibitions. Jeon holds an MFA from UMBC.